COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENT

Access to dance training and performance opportunities is often concentrated in major urban centres, creating significant barriers for dancers living in rural and small communities. These barriers can limit artistic development, visibility, and long-term participation in the dance sector.
Dance and Heart exists to address this imbalance. By centring our work in Centre Wellington, we create pathways for rural dancers to train, perform, and engage in artistic work within the context of a broader local arts scene and with people who relate. Our work has been featured in regional media, contributing to increased visibility for rural dance practice. Representing dance strengthens local cultural life while supporting artists to remain connected to their communities.
Investing in rural dance contributes to a more equitable and diverse arts landscape, one that reflects the full geographic and cultural breadth of Ontario and ensures that artistic excellence can emerge from anywhere.

Community voices

dancer, Fergus On.

“It's been good to push me out of my historical comfort zone, and a great atmosphere for [my child] to observe and learn without being high-stress.”
Dancer, Fergus On.

“This has been such a fun and new experience for me! I'm really grateful to have been a part of it. I could definitely see myself doing more with DH in the future.”
Dancer, Simcoe On.

“It has been an amazing experience! Everyone has been wonderful to dance and work with, especially Norah. Her vision and leadership has been top notch.”

non-profit partners

THE SPARROW'S NEST

The Sparrow’s Nest is a third space for makers of all abilities in Elora, Ontario. Together, we host spaces for artists to hone their craft and host social gatherings for local artists to connect.
ArtsBuild Ontario

ArtsBuild Ontario (ABO) is a provincial arts service organization that provides small organizations with rehearsal space as part of the “Meanwhile Spaces” pilot project. As part of their pilot cohort, we rehearsed in underused spaces in the county, under market value.
elora community theatre

Elora Community Theatre is a local charity operating for over 50 years in the community. Dance and Heart collaborates on choreography through supporting dance, music, and lighting for Elora Community Theatre’s theatrical productions.
Centre Wellington township

Between the CW Sportsplex, Culture Days Festival, and the Arts and Culture Council, our township supports artistic activities of all kinds and offers Dance and Heart spaces to perform and showcase work.

local business supporters

A Natural Home

A Natural Home is a local shop that offers us space for photoshoots, enabling us to introduce our team and promote artists in our community.
fergus grand theatre

Located in the heart of downtown Fergus, this historic theatre represents Centre Wellington’s arts community.
the Grandway events centre

The GrandWay Event Centre is home to several versatile spaces, and is owned and operated by the Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS), a not-for-profit corporation. They provided us rehearsal space during show creation process.
The Bookery

The Bookery is a rare book store hosting our local Medieval Faire Festival. They provided financial support for us to bring our work to a larger stage during the festival.